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3M Touch Systems

Touchscreen Technologies


With over 150 patents related to touch technologies, 3M Touch Systems expertise in this industry is extensive and ever increasing.

3M Projected Capacitive Technology (3M PCT) is based on mutual capacitance operation theory.

Unique attributes of this technology are:

  • 20-finger multi-touch input
  • Less than 6ms multi-touch response time (for all 20 fingers) for applications that are speed sensitive
  • Precise, accurate touch for detailed applications
  • Multi-user and multi-tasking capabilities
  • Compatible with Windows 7

3M PCT Multi Touch Technology has received Windows Touch Additional Qualification (AQ) for multi-touch interactivity.

Product implementations:

Surface capacitive touch technology is one of the most established touch interfaces available today. Pioneered by MicroTouch Systems in the mid-1980s, surface capacitive technology is the preferred solution for public-access applications in contaminant-prone environments.

Product implementations:

How Surface Capacitive Technology Works (Flash)

Dispersive Signal Technology is 3M's proprietary implementation of bending wave technology, which 3M has enhanced to optimize real-time touch response for large-screen public-access applications.

Dispersive Signal Technology's theory of operation is based on piezos, mounted in each corner of the glass sensors, collecting and converting the bending wave energy created by a touch into digital signals that are processed by proprietary algorithms residing in the touch controller.

Product implementations:

How Dispersive Signal Technology Works (Flash)

DST Application Brief (PDF 1.1MB)

Tactile feedback technology provides touch screen users with the "sensation" that they are actually depressing traditional mechanical buttons.

The tactile feedback effect is created when the user simultaneously sees a video button depress, hears an audio file of the mechanical "click" and feels a vibration in the touch screen's glass surface. The user instinctively interprets the combination of these three sensations as depressing a mechanical button, when actually they're touching a solid glass surface.

Product implementations:

How Tactile Feedback Technology Works (PDF 106KB)

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